Image: AIMPLAS
AIMPLAS Working to Develop Valuable Packaging Applications From Fish-Processing Waste
24/09/2024
AIMPLAS, a Valencia, Spain-based research and technology center, is participating in a European project designed to develop an eco-friendly barrier coating for food packaging from fish gelatin as well as cosmetics packaging from waste fishing nets.
Image: Woodly Oy
Woodly – made of wood, looks like plastic
23/09/2024
Wood-based substitute material for plastic offers the food industry new sustainable options. Finnish start-up and SAVE FOOD member Woodly supplies wood cellulose polymers for various packaging solutions and products such as reusable cups. The carbon-neutral material is particularly useful in ensuring that bread is hygienically packaged while staying fresh for a long time and looking appetising.
Image: Aeropowder
Natural insulation from feathers
18/07/2024
With their microscopically small hollow fibre structure, feathers are among the lightest natural fibres ever and provide excellent heat insulation. A British start-up utilises these properties and turns feathers, a waste product from the poultry industry, into an insulating packaging material for the cold transport.
Image: Aldi
ALDI UK using AI to provide visibility to its flexible plastic packaging efforts
26/06/2024
Aldi UK is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in its recycling of flexible plastic packaging. The supermarket offers front-of-store collection points for such packaging and then applies technology from Greenback Recycling Technologies to track and verify the flow of material using eco2Veritas system. The project is supported by the brand-backed Flexible Plastic Fund.
Image: Constanze Tillmann
Kombucha leather – packaging from the tea lab
25/06/2024
The packaging industry is looking for creative solutions to package food both safely and sustainably. A young team of students and researchers in Istanbul is currently working on prototypes of SCOBY, a leather-like biofilm made from fermented kombucha tea.
Image: Sappi
Sustainable coatings for packaging papers
24/06/2024
Food is more and more often wrapped in paper. But this natural material is porous and has next to no barrier properties against humidity, oxygen, grease or oil. Paper producers like Sappi are now coating their packaging papers sustainably using water-based barriers which do not impact later recycling. In research, a common topic is the development of bio-based barrier coating materials.
Image: GoUnpackaged
The Refill Coalition aims to take reuse and refill mainstream
21/05/2024
The UK-based Refill Coalition, led by the GoUnpackaged NGO, has worked with molder Berry Global and supply-chain firm CHEP to create a system designed to vastly reduce retailers’ need for single-use plastics packaging.
Image: unsplash/ Alexandre Lallemand
Compulsive EU regulation for sustainable packaging not far away
13/05/2024
Harmonising the rules on packaging and packaging waste within Europe is long overdue. The draft of a Europe-wide, compulsive packaging directive by the European Commission in 2022 has already passed through the different levels of legislation and could achieve final adoption in autumn. Industry representatives are both expressing approval and criticism.
Image: Proservation
Inventor with team spirit
13/05/2024
Founding a start-up right after graduation takes courage. Therefore, Lisa Antonie Scherer joined forces with three others to market her invention, an eco-friendly padding material. The most recent step is a successful crowd funding campaign to enable the purchase of a demonstration system.
Image: Alex Krowiak
Seaweed-based packaging gaining traction as a plastic alternative
16/04/2024
Notpla Ltd. has landed a big contract with a UK sports-venue operator, while California startup Sway has launched a new seaweed-based biopolymer and secured major new funding. Both have won awards and are helping to commercialize seaweed-based packaging.
Image: iStock
Why ‘right-sizing’ your parcel packaging is good for the planet, and the bottom line
26/03/2024
Consumers are all but addicted to home delivery of all types of products, driving the number of parcels shipped globally from 161 billion in 2022 to an estimated 225 billion by 2028.
Image: Pacoon
A sturdy concept for the future of reusable containers?
12/03/2024
Within the planned EU packaging regulation, quotas for reusable containers play an important part. However, reusable container collection systems are not yet widespread in Europe. This is in spite of the fact that preserves, jams, fruit gums, sauces or dried products could come in reusable packaging in addition to beverages. Pacoon now has developed a new reusable container system.
Image: AdobeStock
Ultrasonic welding of uncoated paper
12/12/2023
Welding uncoated paper using ultrasound is something new. The innovative joining procedure is friendly to the environment, making it possible to save large amounts of energy and resources. Syntegon, who own the patent, have recently licensed the process to Herrmann Ultraschall. The company is supposed to bring the process to market.
Image: Juha Hakulinen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
VTT PILOTS CELLULOSE AS ALTERNATIVE TO RIGID POLYPROPYLENE PACKAGING
30/11/2023
Researchers at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have developed formable, cellulose-based webs that they say offer a sustainable alternative to plastic in rigid polypropylene in food packaging applications.
Image: BASF
Women in packaging: Mia Pettersson – helping take compostable bioplastics to the next level
14/11/2023
BASF has been active in the bioplastics field for more than 30 years. Swedish chemical engineer Mia Pettersson is head of BASF’s biopolymer portfolio in Ludwigshafen, Germany, where she works on continuing to develop compostable and biodegradable plastics while supporting women in their advancement in the company.
Image: EN Tea
Compostable biopolymer PBS replacing fossil plastics
14/11/2023
Bioplastics can replace conventional fossil plastics in many applications while being processed in the same way. One important type of bioplastic is PBS. The biopolymer is plant-based, biodegradable and recyclable. A Japanese tea manufacturer is now using PBS in the packaging for its tea bags.
Image: Vetropack
Less material and more green energy: The glass industry is becoming more sustainable
17/10/2023
Glass is the ideal packaging material for beverages and foods. It is odourless and neutral in taste and does not react with the filled goods. However, its production is very energy intensive and the industry is working hard to become climate-neutral.
The novel cellulose fibres are produced from a mix of curran, bamboo and bagasse. (Image: RyPax)
New bottle design – 100 percent fibre-based
11/10/2023
The interest in fibre bottles is large, as they are lightweight, robust and made from renewable resources. The material does not always have to be wood from fir and deciduous trees, left-over material from food production is also suitable. For example sugar beet chips, which are a waste product of sugar production.
Image: Actega
Sustainable print finishing
12/09/2023
Embossing, colour effects and particularly metallic sheens catch the eyes at points of sale. Finishing labels and folded boxes with conventional embossing foil, however, creates lots of film waste. But now an alternative, which allows metallic pigments to be applied selectively and cost-effectively and which consequently eliminates the need for plastic film, has arrived.
Image: Dow
How labels are becoming more recyclable
12/09/2023
A world without labels? Inconceivable. Their endless variety of materials, shapes and functions help labels attract attention. But it should also be possible to separate them from their packaging again at the end of the packaging’s life in the interests of a circular economy. Recyclable solutions are on the way.
Image: The Paper Lid Company
Paper lids for less single-use plastic
15/08/2023
When the time comes for a hot or cold drink while out and about, many people opt for takeaway beverages in disposable cups. These often come with a plastic lid, resulting in a significant volume of waste. One Finnish start-up is instead using recyclable paperboard lids and has entered into a partnership with Walki.
Image: PulPac
Eurostars project for fibre-based packaging concluded
11/07/2023
As part of the Eurostars funding programme, PulPac in Sweden and the Bio-Lutions start-up in Germany have together developed a prototype for a new dry-moulded-fibre machine that’s able to process fibres from agricultural waste. The project saw them adapting standard components that are traditionally used to make plastic products.
Image: StellrWeb/unsplash
Considering the carbon footprint during refitting
13/06/2023
Packaging materials are usually the first thing that come to mind when the topic of the ‘carbon footprint of packaging’ is brought up. Machines, however, also produce emissions. But even relatively simple modifications may result in considerable savings. A tool by the KHS mechanical engineering company in Germany is able to quantify those savings.
Image: thyssenkrupp Rasselstein
Tin packaging becomes more climate-friendly
13/06/2023
They are regarded as best for recycling: Tin cans, tubes and bottles. But they don’t score well in terms of their carbon footprint because it is not yet possible to produce steel without using coal as the source of energy. Industry is, however, working on more sustainable solutions and has launched the first carbon-reduced steel for packaging.
Image: BASF
Compostable coating for food-safe paper packaging
13/06/2023
Barrier properties are particularly important to food packaging. Consumers are additionally demanding solutions that are environmentally friendly. BASF has developed an extrusion coating for paper and cardboard packaging, which may be composted both industrially and domestically.
Image: Hoffmann Neopac
What are the benefits of paper tubes?
16/05/2023
Packaging is being viewed differently in these times of ever scarcer raw materials and increasing environmental issues. As are tubes. Some companies are placing their hopes on fibre-based solutions, e.g. paper. But are there only benefits to paper tubes?
Impression of a trade fair hall at interpack
These topics will shape interpack 2023
18/04/2023
Circular economy, conserving resources, digital technologies and product safety – those are the four hot topics which will shape interpack 2023 more than any other issue. But what exactly are these focal points of interest all about?
Since 1970, the WorldStar Awards have been conferred every year. (Image: WPO
Industry innovations in the spotlight
18/04/2023
Since 1970, the World Packaging Organization has annually awarded the WorldStar Awards. With this prize, WPO honours the achievements of the companies and developers in the industry. In 2023, this highly sought-after prize will be awarded during interpack.
The students worked on the research project in six teams. (Image: BAU)
SAVE FOOD research project: New food packaging from leftover food
18/04/2023
Food production generates a lot of residual material, which is usually not put to use but disposed of. At the same time, there is an increasing demand for alternatives to plastic packaging. Biodegradable and compostable packaging can be a sustainable solution, especially if it is made of leftovers from food production.
How to save? GreenSaver from Robatech provides detailed answers (Image: Robatech)
Advertorial - Systematically making use of savings potential in adhesive application
13/04/2023
Rising energy prices, shortages of raw materials and supply bottlenecks are increasingly putting a strain on companies. Under the motto "You don't need much. Just the right thing.", Robatech will present GreenSaver at interpack 2023. With this service, the savings potential in industrial hotmelt application can be determined.
Looks like PET, but is PEF bioplastic. (Image: Avantium)
Bioplastics in packaging
14/02/2023
There is a reason why the packaging industry has been focusing for decades on the many different applications for fossil plastics. Now, companies are increasingly focussing on biobased plastics. But what are the possible applications, and what needs to be considered during the changeover?
CCL Label was able to reduce the thickness of their stretch sleeves to 30 micrometres. (Image: CCL Label)
Thinner sleeves for more sustainability
14/02/2023
Everyone is talking about sustainability. The way to an improved carbon footprint is to decrease the use of unnecessary material. Austrian company CCL Label, for example, were recently able to decrease the thickness of their stretch sleeves for PET bottles by one third.
The sustainable load carriers by Cabka were especially designed and improved for the chemical industry. (Image: Cabka)
The new generation of recycled plastic pallets
12/12/2022
For the chemical industry, plastic pallets could be a sustainable alternative when it comes to the transport and storage of products. With the help of industry feedback, Cabka has developed a sustainable generation of their plastic pallets, made from recycled material.
The ZP3C series vacuum pad (shown here in the version for flat work pieces) does not require tools for maintenance thanks to its two-part construction. (Image: SMC Deutschland GmbH)
New vacuum pad makes maintenance possible without tools
12/12/2022
Transport of hazardous materials poses different challenges to labels. They have to adhere to different materials and be resistant to chemicals or environmental effects. Storage and disposal of large amounts of labels can become a problem.
Boxlab Services takes care that hazard labels comply with legal requirements. (Image: Boxlab Services)
Small print runs of labels for hazardous materials
17/11/2022
Transport of hazardous materials poses different challenges to labels. They have to adhere to different materials and be resistant to chemicals or environmental effects. Storage and disposal of large amounts of labels can become a problem.
Plastics can also be produced from fibre-based raw materials, for example from sugar cane. (Credit: Victoria Priessnitz/unsplash)
A bioplastic for every application
24/10/2022
Fossil plastics have a lot of advantages, but they are also said to be harmful to the environment. Bioplastics are an alternative for packaging manufacturers. They are just as versatile, but are made using renewable resources, and some are even compostable.
The use of recyclates begins with the correct separation of waste. (Image: Sigmund/unsplash)
Use of recyclates in packaging
24/10/2022
If there is one thing the industry agrees on, it is that more recycled raw materials must be used. In the case of plastics, this means recyclates. They are in greater demand than ever, but the supply is still relatively small. What do packaging manufacturers have to pay attention to when using them, and what has to change so that more recyclates can be used?
Tactile nubs form on the surface of the cap as soon as the contents of the bottle are no longer fit for consumption.
A closure fighting food waste
24/10/2022
Too much food is still being thrown away around the world, even though it may still have a shelf life. Together with United Caps, a London start-up has now developed a bottle cap that provides information about the edibility of the contents beyond the best-before date.
There is no such thing as innately good or bad packaging, and the environmental impact should always be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. (Image: Nick Fewings/unsplash)
Life cycle assessments – a useful tool or greenwashing?
26/09/2022
Plastic or paper, single use or reusable – which packaging gets the best marks in a life cycle assessment? The answer often appears to be simple, but an environmental assessment should always look at the individual case in detail, because there are benefits and drawbacks everywhere – and the results are sometimes surprising.
Many companies are thinking about their energy consumption and CO2 emissions. (Image: Marcin Jozwiak/ Unsplash)
Reliably determining the carbon footprint of packaging machines
26/09/2022
Companies are looking for ways to make their production and their products more sustainable. One of the important factors is the machinery which is used here. TÜV Rheinland has now certified a method by Syntegon which determines the carbon footprint of the machines produced by the company.
With the new complete line, PET bottles in various different sizes can be filled and packaged even more quickly. (Image: Sidel)
Go with the flow! With the fastest complete water filling line in the Middle East
17/08/2022
Quality and efficiency are key production requirements for water supplier Mai Dubai. The company turned to Sidel for a new bottling system. Now, 86,000 bottles per hour are being filled by Super Combi, the fastest complete line in the Middle East region.
Image: AdobeStock
Sausage wrap that can be recycled
21/07/2022
Sliced sausage is supposed to look good on the refrigerator shelves in the supermarket and is usually wrapped in non-recyclable transparent composite film. Now, thanks to energy-efficient heating systems in thermoforming machines for packaging, it is possible to use more sustainable materials – while maintaining the same level of safety, quality and transparency.
Image: AdobeStock
Less material needed to produce sealing films
21/07/2022
Films are an important part of packaging: They provide an impenetrable barrier between the product and the environment. That said, industrial handling of such sealing films is not always simple. A cooperation between Plasthill and Constantia Flexibles has now led to the development of a PE film which uses less material, thus leading to reduced CO2 emissions, yet has greater seal strength.
Photo: Wiederstein Verpackungen
Hemp, a trending material?
24/06/2022
When cannabis is mentioned, its intoxicating effects are the first thing that springs to mind for most people. However, the European hemp varieties that are cultivated today contain very little that is intoxicating, and instead have a high amount of fibres that are ideally suited for making them into paper labels, cold storage packaging or even one-way pallets.
Photo: Kier In Sight / unsplash
Mono-material sachets
21/06/2022
For packaging made of plastic, their potential to be recycled is very important. Refilling systems save material. Mono-material sachets and bags also reduce the amount of material consumed, protect packaged goods and have practical uses for customers.
Image: Südpack
Flow packs as a sustainable solution in food packaging
25/05/2022
From requiring less material in production to taking up less space on supermarket shelves, flow packs have some clear benefits. Predominantly used in the food sector, this packaging is becoming more and more popular. But how sustainable are these packs?
High-Tech against spoilage of food
03/07/2015
Over 80 kilos of foodstuffs are disposed of per year per capita in Germany according to statistical assessments. Innovative packaging material is to contribute to longer shelf-life.